Interviews

1. Reaction to a 1942 speech by Mike Masaoka, Japanese American Citizen League's National Secretary

2. Death of sister in October 1942

3. First impression of New York City during war time

4. Neighbors' sympathy after Pearl Harbor

5. The origin of Japanese American Association in New York City

6. Involvement in Nikkei community in New York City

George Katsumi Yuzawa

(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement

The origin of Japanese American Association in New York City

The origin was Japanese Association, prior to the War. Is called Nihonjin-kai and then after the war, the word “American” was introduced as a “Japanese American Association” –Nikkeiin-kai. And most of the people, prominent people, in our community were members of this group. We just welcomed everyone who had something to offer.

Our organization is mostly welfare, social, educational, and we take care of many of the old people like myself and the Isseis are pretty well gone but the Nisei are getting into that area. Third generation and people from Japan, we moved to these new quarters here on the 15 West 44th Street. We take up the whole 11th floor. We welcome everyone to come. We have a library which is stocked with Japanese videos and publications. And people always refer to us because we have historical memorabilia. So if anyone wants to research, we also have all the Nichibei (Japan – U.S.) publications here. That’s the local vernacular, which is no longer here in existence.

communities community organizations identity organizations

Date: November 15, 2000

Location: New York, United States

Interviewer: John Esaki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

George Katsumi Yuzawa was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915. He and his family were incarcerated at the Amache concentration camp in Colorado in 1942 through 1943. After their release in 1943, Yuzawa resettled in New York City. His family joined him in New York City in 1944. Soon after, he volunteered to join the United States Army for which he served two years in the Military Intelligence sector. After his discharge, he operated an import and export business in New York City. Eventually, he closed his business to assist his father?s florist business.

Yuzawa was an active civil rights activist in the 1970s and '80s in the New York chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) where he protested and filed lawsuits against people who denigrated the Japanese with signs in front of businesses and public transportation. Two major campaigns that Yuzawa spearheaded was the Kenzo Takada controversy and the ILGWU (International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union) anti-Japanese subway poster campaign. As a result of these campaigns, Yuzawa and other fellow Nisei activists formed the Asian Americans for Fair Media, Inc. He was also active in the Redress Movement and helped coordinate the 1981 CWRIC (Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians) hearings in New York City.

Yuzawa helped organize the first sakura matsuri (cherry blossom festival) at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He also founded the non-profit organization, Japanese American Help for the Aging, Inc. (JAHFA) to provide seniors with bilingual assistance, in senior housing and other services. He has devoted the last quarter of the 20th century to supporting the needs of senior citizens in his community.

He passed away on October 2011.(October 2011)